THOMAS E. MARSH

Thomas E. Marsh, of Castile, died on August 29th.

Mr. Marsh had served the Commission as a Game Protector for seventeen years. His work of game protection and law enforcement was characterized by thoroughness. He was a game protector not because the position afforded a means of livelihood but because he was a nature lover and desired to protect the wild life of forest, field and water. He was efficient because his interest centered in his duty and effective in that he was intelligent.

Mr. Marsh won the respect and esteem of his associates in the Commission who deeply regret his death.

Special Protectors.-In addition to regular protectors, the Commission appoints special protectors who serve the State in game protection work without pay. The number of regular protectors in the service at one time is regulated by the amount of appropriation made available for this purpose, but there is no limit to the number of specials the Commission may appoint.

There are now 341 specials in the service, located in nearly every section of the state. Special protectors are vested with the same powers as regulars, are not uniformed, and are not required to work any specific number of days, nor are they allowed any traveling expenses. Expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties must be borne by themselves. Though very few of them perform active patrol work, they exert an influence for good among the hunters and fishermen of communities in which they reside. Last year 24 specials reported 167 cases. The fines and penalties collected amounted to $3,180.50.

Nets Confiscated.- To the fines and penalties collected by the protectors from violators of the Conservation Law, there properly should be added $22,297. This is the value of illegal devices confiscated from fishermen. In addition to having to pay fines upon conviction, the devices used in the violations are forfeited to the State. Last year there were seized gills, seines, traps, fykes and scaps to the number of 598. The estimated commercial value of these devices is $22,223. There were also 15 set lines valued at $74 seized because of illegal use. After having served their purpose as evidence, the set lines were destroyed. The nets, however, were retained by the Commission for use at its various hatcheries in collecting fish from which spawn is taken. Thousands of feet of net are used in the taking of spawn and much of this footage is supplied by confiscated nets. Such of the nets as are not adaptable for this purpose or are in such poor condition as not to warrant their further use are destroyed by burning.

While not all the operators of illegal nets or set lines are apprehended, it will be seen that even though they may evade prosecution in court, they do not escape all punishment, for the value of . the nets lost in most cases far exceeds the size of fine that would be imposed. The average value of each net last year was $32.00.

Confiscated Skins.- During the year, the game protectors confiscated 418 pelts of protected animals that were being possessed in violation of the Conservation Law. The majority of these skins were seized because they were being possessed during the close season for the taking of the animals from which removed. The Conservation Law does not prohibit the possession of furs during the close season but rather makes such possession presumptive evidence of illegal taking. The protector seizes only such skins as show evidence of illegal taking and if the person from whom taken can prove the pelts were legally acquired and possessed, the skins are returned. Failing in this, the fur is seized in the name of the

State and sold to the highest bidder when it has outlived its usefulness as evidence. The sale of these skins brought the state $273.90.

Vermin.- The Commission during the past year continued its campaign of destruction against those animals of our forests that exist by preying upon the other wild life more useful and desirable, and which are protected by the Conservation Law. A list of these animals which are classed as vermin is supplied each protector, who is expected to destroy them whenever opportunity is afforded. For this purpose, rifles are made a part of the equipment of protectors. The animals classed as vermin are as follows:

Of these animals, the game protectors last year killed 3,486. When the destructive habits of these animals are considered, it can be more readily appreciated what an immeasurable amount of good was done the game of the state by their destruction.

Hunting and Trapping Licenses.-For some years past there has been a gradual increase in the number of hunting and trapping licenses sold in New York State. This year, however, the increase was unprecedented, 62,581 more licenses being sold than in the

previous year. The reports show that 332,182 residents and 2,199 non-residents took out licenses to hunt or trap in this state. In addition to these, the Commission sold 651 licenses to aliens to hunt and trap, and realized from their sale, $6,835.50. The total number of licenses of all kinds sold this year to hunt and trap amounted to 335,032, as against 272,451 for the preceding year, an increase of about 23 per cent. The total moneys received from sale of hunting and trapping licenses amounted to $346,875.64, which is $71,771.40 more than the sale of licenses brought last year.

The price of a resident hunting and trapping license is $1.25. A non-resident license costs $10.50. An alien license also costs $10.50. These latter licenses cannot be obtained from county, city or town clerks, but must be secured direct from the Conservation Commission at Albany.

Lost Hunting Buttons.-The principal factor bearing on the falling off of hunting and trapping licenses sold during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1923, was the repealing of the provision of the Conservation Law requiring hunters and trappers to wear a button furnished by the Commission in a conspicuous place on his clothing when afield. This button contained a number corresponding to the number of the wearer's hunting and trapping license. With the passage of the law requiring the wearing of these buttons, the sale of hunting and trapping licenses for the year showed a substantial gain. In the year following the repeal of the law, there were 10,382 less licenses sold than in the previous year, and this in spite of the fact that in every year for the ten previous years, the sale of licenses showed an increase. There are thousands of people in this State, who go hunting only once or twice a year, and to save license fees are willing to take a chance on these occasions, feeling the probable chance of being apprehended is small. When a button containing number of license is required to be worn on the person, in addition to the carrying of the license when afield, this class of hunters hesitate before hunting without first complying with all requirements of the law, knowing that in the absence of the telltale button it is common knowledge to every person met afield, they are violating the Conservation Law. When the license button provision was again put into the law, the sale of licenses that year jumped from 272,451 to 334,032, a gain of 62,581 licenses sold.

If a hunting and trapping license button is lost, a duplicate may be obtained from the Commission. During the past fiscal year, the Commission replaced 190 lost buttons at the cost to the hunters of $28.50.

The Commission issued licenses to 651 unnaturalized foreign born persons to hunt in this state during the year 1924. A fee of $10.50 is charged for an alien license, and from their sale during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924, the Commission realized $6,835.50.

When this law was placed on the statute books in 1922, a big step was taken toward conserving the song and insectivorous birds. the time the passage of the law was under consideration, it was

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